The New Movement for Physician The New Movement for Physician Accountability for War CrimesAccountability for War Crimes
Steven H. MilesSteven H. Miles
Physicians and Torture: 9 years into it.
2004 20122007 2009
MD Accountability•Publications•On-line Database •Testimony & Collaborations: South Africa, Argentina, (Zimbabwe)
MD Codes (Compilations,
Variations, Harmonization,
Reform)
• Publications (incl screening for
torture)
War on Terror MDs•Book & Publications•On-line Databases •Documentary www.doctorsofthedarkside.com/
2
Nuremburg Nazi Medicine Trial, Nuremburg Nazi Medicine Trial, 1946-19471946-1947
► 23 defendants23 defendants 7 death by hanging 7 death by hanging 9 prison terms, 10 9 prison terms, 10
yrs to life, yrs to life,
7 acquitted7 acquitted. .
United Nations
WMA
19561948 1975 1988 2007
Regulation in Armed Conflict
Declaration of
Geneva
UN Principles Protection of
Persons under Detention
Convention Against Torture, Cruel, Inhuman, and
Degrading Treatment
1984
Declaration of Tokyo Duty of MDs
to Document and
Denounce
No Licenses MDs fleeing
prosecution
1997
Clinical Societies Policies
1980
UN Principles Medical Ethics
1946
Torturing regimes need doctors.
• Devise means to minimize scars, including psychosexual torture.
• Keep alive those who are supposed to live.
• Conceal the cause of death of those who die.
Half of torture survivors report seeing a physician overseeing their
torture.
Study PopulationStudy Population► Doctors punished for war crimes occurring the Doctors punished for war crimes occurring the
WMA Declaration of Tokyo. WMA Declaration of Tokyo. ► International or national courts, medical International or national courts, medical
licensing boards. licensing boards. ► Exclude acquittals but Exclude acquittals but
Include physicians found culpable and later Include physicians found culpable and later excused by new amnesties, pardons, etc. excused by new amnesties, pardons, etc.
► Not an exhaustive list. Not an exhaustive list. Biased to western languages and web media. Biased to western languages and web media. Some physicians who torture give self-Some physicians who torture give self-
incriminating testimony in exchange for immunity incriminating testimony in exchange for immunity or amnesty. or amnesty.
Many doctors are never punished. Many doctors are never punished.
Miércoles, 21 de Febrero de 2007 |
Norberto Atilio Bianco cumplió funciones como médico en el Hospital Militar de Campo de Mayo con el grado de capitán del Ejército durante la última dictadura militar. La Justicia lo condenó en 2000 por la apropiación de dos menores de edad, pero en diciembre del año pasado las Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo sumaron a esa denuncia otra por su responsabilidad en los secuestros y desapariciones de los hijos de, por lo menos, 35 mujeres embarazadas que pasaron por Campo de Mayo.
EL PAIS › LA CAUSA CONTRA BIANCO POR LA REPRESION EN CAMPO DE MAYO
Dueño del destino de las embarazadas Comparta esta nota con un amigo
Siluetas de desaparecidos en el predio de Campo de Mayo.“Pudimos revertir el plan macabro”
Google TranslatorGoogle Translator
21 Feb 2007 ... Dueño del destino de las embarazadas. www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/elpais/subnotas/80690-26051-2007-02-21.html -
[ Translate this page ]
Nation> THE CAUSE AGAINST THE REPRESSION IN BIANCO CAMPO DE MAYO OWNER OF THE FATE OF PREGNANT WOMEN
Norberto Atilio Bianco served as physician at the Hospital Militar de Campo de Mayo with the rank of captain in the Army during the last military dictatorship. Justice sentenced him in 2000 for the appropriation of two minors, but in December last year, the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo joined by another claim that its liability in the abductions and disappearances of children of at least 35 pregnant women who went to Campo de Mayo.
Owner of the fate of pregnant women
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Silhouettes of the missing at the site at Campo de Mayo. "We will reverse the macabre"
Original Spanish text:
La Justicia lo condenó en 2000 por la apropiación de dos menores de edad, pero en diciembre del año pasado las Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo sumaron a esa denuncia otra por su responsabilidad en los secuestros y desapariciones de los hijos de, por lo menos, 35 mujeres embarazadas que pasaron por Campo de Mayo. Contribute a better translation
South Africa
Greece
Sri Lanka
Uruguay
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Medical BoardDomestic Court
International CourtDied during crim trial
Combinations signify multiple events for one person
Physicians Sanctioned for War Crimes / Torture 1975-2010
Rwanda
Yugoslavia
Sanctioned Hearing Open
UK
Guyana
Bangladesh
Pakistan
10
Court Martial (one) 1975 Court Martial (one) 1975 The First post-Nuremburg CaseThe First post-Nuremburg Case
► After the Greek After the Greek junta fell, Dr. Dimitri junta fell, Dr. Dimitri Kofas, supervisor of Kofas, supervisor of torture:torture: Court martialed for Court martialed for
dereliction of duty dereliction of duty ImprisonedImprisoned
A Separate Issue: MDs who are A Separate Issue: MDs who are Senior Government OfficialsSenior Government Officials
Dr. C BizimunguForeign Minister
Genocide
Dr. B Simic War Presidency
Crim ag Humanity
Dr. M Stakic VP Munc Assembly
Genocide
These physicians acted These physicians acted as senior government as senior government officials, not as clinicians.officials, not as clinicians.
MotivationsMotivations
No systematic No systematic informationinformation►Denied knowingly Denied knowingly participating. participating. ►Patriotism.Patriotism.►Orders/military Orders/military duty.duty.►National National emergency. emergency. ►Fear. Fear.
Amilcar Lobo Amilcar Lobo
Brazilian, PsychiatristBrazilian, Psychiatrist
““man has used torture and man has used torture and assassination for thousands assassination for thousands of years and permitted it as of years and permitted it as long as it is socially long as it is socially organized. It is but a moment organized. It is but a moment from the Inquisitionfrom the Inquisition’’s torture s torture and murder of the Jews to the and murder of the Jews to the NaziNazi’’s similar actions forty s similar actions forty years ago. This is human years ago. This is human nature; I am not ashamed to nature; I am not ashamed to be part of it.be part of it.”” Lobo A. Lobo A. A Hora do Lobo e a Hora do A Hora do Lobo e a Hora do
CarneiroCarneiro [The Hour of the Wolf and [The Hour of the Wolf and the Hour of the Sheep.]the Hour of the Sheep.]
Types of Sanctioning BodiesTypes of Sanctioning Bodies
In Progress N=18
Sanctioned N=57
Medical Associations Precede Court Actions (court involvement is often second action against an MD)
Important DifferencesImportant DifferencesCourtsCourts
► Crimes. Crimes. Murder (incl. false death Murder (incl. false death
certificates)certificates) Kidnapping Kidnapping ““TortureTorture”” rarely indicted rarely indicted
because not codified. because not codified.
► SanctionsSanctions Damages to survivorsDamages to survivors Revoke pensionsRevoke pensions
ImprisonmentImprisonment
Medical Licensing Medical Licensing BrdsBrds
► Ethics Violations: Ethics Violations: National codesNational codes Declaration of TokyoDeclaration of Tokyo Hippocratic OathHippocratic Oath
► SanctionsSanctions CensureCensure Revoke awards.Revoke awards. Remove from Office.Remove from Office.
Suspend licenseSuspend license Revoke licensesRevoke licenses
15
Denouncing of Physicians
Clinic
Home
Camilo Azar SabaSuspended for six months by the Medical Association for torture of prisoners at barracks of Centro Nacional de Información. Involved in case of Federico Santibanez. Address: Alto Las Condes, ubicada en Avenida Kennedy 9001, piso 7, Mall Alto Las Condes. Phone: 6366666 Web
Governments Shelter Physicians who Abet Governments Shelter Physicians who Abet TortureTorture
► Enact amnesties /Excuse crimes committed Enact amnesties /Excuse crimes committed under orders.under orders.
► Require military courts to screen cases. Require military courts to screen cases.
► Block evidence: access to records, military Block evidence: access to records, military testimony. testimony.
► Exempt military MDs from medical board’ Exempt military MDs from medical board’ sanctions.sanctions.
► Establish government medical associations to Establish government medical associations to supersede civilian medical societies. supersede civilian medical societies.
► Let delicensed MDs work in military hospitals.Let delicensed MDs work in military hospitals.
A Schematic History of A Schematic History of SanctionsSanctions
Torturing regime
Medical Associations
Create new med assnsEmploy sanctioned MDs
In gov hospitals
Civil society
Political affinities
Build supportfor sanctions
Med Assn Sanctions
Med Ethics Awakening
Courts
Court Sanctions
Compile evidenceResistance
Obstruct complaintsAmnesty, PardonsDestroy Evidence
Intimidation
Courts
Few allegations proceed to Few allegations proceed to sanctions.sanctions.
Brazil110 Allegations
10 SanctionsChile
80 Allegations
Argentina200+ Allegations
22 Sanctions
8 Sanctions
National Stages of MD Sanctions for National Stages of MD Sanctions for TortureTorture
Stage IV: Systems for sanction-ing MDs for abetting torture.
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Rwanda,
Stage III: Punished a symbolic physician. Greece, UK, South Africa
Stage II: Condemn MD complicity in principle but have not sanctioned their complicit MDs.
Egypt, US, Philippines, Venezuela
Stage I: Suppress discussion of MD complicity with torture.
Libya, China, or North Korea
Stage I
Stage II
IIIIII Stage IVStage IV
Medicine and TortureMedicine and Torture
Doctors are essential to torturing regimes.
• help minimize scars, • keep alive those who are supposed to live,• conceal the cause of death of those who die.
Doctors are essential to resistance to torture.
• stewards of norms against prisoner abuse (Hippocratic Oath, Declaration of Tokyo).• physicians and their assns are allied with civil dissent from torture.
Half of torture survivors
report that a MD
supervised the torture.
Health Professions Council of Health Professions Council of South Africa: South Africa:
Matter of W.J. Basson MDMatter of W.J. Basson MD
2424
Slides available on requestSlides available on [email protected]@umn.edu
Miles SH, Alencar A, Crock BN. Miles SH, Alencar A, Crock BN. Sanctions against physicians for Sanctions against physicians for war crimes: A work in progress. war crimes: A work in progress.
Paper is available at IRCT.ORG.Paper is available at IRCT.ORG.